‘CHAMPION’ OF SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
Company believes participation from all stakeholders required for a positive change
WITH climate change being a growing global emergency, Nestle (Malaysia) Bhd has stepped up its action and sense of urgency in the country.
Nestle Malaysia chief executive officer Juan Aranols said for many years, Nestle had been operating under the “creating shared value” framework — a firm belief that its business performance can only be sustainable in the long term if it also benefits the communities where the group operates and the society at large.
He said Nestle’s sustainability commitments were also well aligned with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“As an example, we have committed to half our carbon dioxide (CO2) footprint by 2030 and bring it to zero by 2050, while all our packaging will be recyclable or reusable by 2025.
“The global commitments are a powerful driving force to accelerate actions that align behind common objectives.
“They reflect a genuine conviction that we can make a difference. And this is greatly inspiring and motivating for all of us here at Nestle,” he told the New Straits Times recently.
Aranols said Nestle’s purpose was to unlock the power of food to enhance the quality of life for everyone, “today and for generations to come”.
“As the largest food and beverage manufacturer globally and in Malaysia, we recognise the impact that we have not only on consumers but also on the environment.
“Environmental preservation is a key priority as our business depends greatly on the health of the planet.”
Aranols said the company had engaged with farmers in Kelantan and Kedah to produce chillies, rice and coffee that were used in Nestle products under brands such as Maggi, Cerelac and Nescafe.
“The farmers under these programmes are provided with training and technical assistance to minimise the impact of their activities on the environment, as well as to increase productivity and crop yields.”
Aranols added that the company was also deeply engaged in reforestation activities as it recognised that thriving forests and biodiversity were critical to increase carbon absorption and reduce CO2 levels.
“We completed the planting of one million trees along Sungai Kinabatangan in Sabah last year and we will be planting another three million trees by 2023,” he said.
The company is venturing into new opportunities such as plantbased foods so as to help the transition out of an overdependence on meat-based diets.
Aranols said in recent years, there had been a big push both globally and in Malaysia towards strengthening environmental and social governance, in line with the UN SDG and in the context of greater awareness on the dire impacts of climate emergency.
Malaysia was ranked 60th out of 193 countries in the SDG Index last year, up from 68th the year before.
“We believe that participation from all stakeholders across the public and private sector, as well as the wider community, is required to bring about positive, meaningful change,” he added.